HOF'er John Hannah

It's -- along with Mike many -- keep taking your calls talking about the draft and now we're pleased to be joined by NFL hall of Famer. Nine time pro bowler. John -- Hi John I you don't get carried us a little Mike finance you right across to not experience and how are you I see you don't hit them BI know when people get real close feel like -- people so that worked my. Were totally involved -- you don't.

I'm -- we have big day here today at the forum so being shaken or angry and through there and try to pick keeper of the draft or -- so for. What do you -- coming 97 salary and draft that your first round draft pick what's it like to be a first round draft and what's this kid. Who's the tenth overall pick in the draft got to expect coming in you know. Well of excuses you know. So -- approach it differently I when I got drafted you know I was really excited about it but you -- we get drafted in January I guess was about the in January shall we get drafted and they brought -- appear. And when I got drafted the guys came -- and they said hey John you've been drafted opening up nature's. And -- honestly I didn't even notice the New England Patriots were. You know we -- we don't agree employee you know they don't follow pro football Alabama. You know you've taken a step down from the crimson tide become the pitcher we you know what -- every six club which is big fish club then they say what's it going to be. Like the play in front of national TV at 55000 fans. Massive well I'll be too disappointed but I know where they're playing for a eighty -- thousand people in known to save -- so. I mean it was as -- really was to step down in the facilities and everything that when I came here. Was like a bush league just when I came here almost cried at that point -- wherever I'm where my goal. Thirteen years later in. Nine pro bowls and off man here yeah me you know it was a it was a good round I have a lot of fun you know met a lot of great teammates. Never accomplish the big goal which was to have. You know bring home the Lombardi trophy you know has some good teams in the mid seventies there with Fairbanks for he headed out -- had a good team -- the end that. You always merited able to finish it off.

What was -- remembered John that biggest transition for you was it don't want from a -- Steve facility like Alabama -- we -- here in new window was that the physicality of the NFL your very physical and dominant player right away. What was that transition like for -- from college into the NFL.

Well you know. I didn't learn everything we we -- a wishbone owner Peter -- always -- operas but I mean it was a straight here -- we didn't pool we didn't pass directly to do in the -- they would just come right off but it got an amount. And so you talk about physical has always had been trying to play my whole life. What was hard for me was to learn to get at three point stance in his step back you pass protect. And the pass that part of the game you have to develop and I know I don't think I ever really. Fully learned that you know are really good at coastal past six not over commit a lot of please it.

Passive and passive part of the game it is the past throwing it at that and I never learned that not whatever else on again -- I think your first play football. What do you think the patriots overall in this position being a Super Bowl contending team and then draft a linebacker with -- and all afternoon. Then finally. Bill Belichick actually drafted the position that most people thought they got -- which is unusual for the really take some in the city draft but it tight end yeah.

While I saw I saw -- you know play in Alabama that was you know what that that was about away game for the -- so they were going to an Alabama what's it like. -- the kid has got great speed great quickness very physical tough player. And you know the only the only drawback is all right you know he's six feet tall and in -- he's not a you know -- just like. But you know I think he's going to make up forward then pass -- the guy's incredible he's really he's you know he's got the speed of the what is going to. He's a singletary type linebacker really good quality kid.

We've had a lot of callers today call and talk about the patriots offensive line obviously eighteen available for the perfect season nineteen annul. Fans and I -- diehards look back at that Super Bowl say patriots got exposed -- a bit on the offensive line the giants punched him in the mouth. Patriots didn't respond in scheming differently do you feel like the need to get an offensive linemen at some point in this draft add to their depth after what you saw on the Super Bowl.

Well I really can't tell sometimes you know is the player and sometimes it's the scheme. And in a lot of times I think in the Super Bowl was this game because you have in the fan block -- goes the other way we shoot the middle linebacker Milan back east coast we got away. You created this huge huge gap between the guard in the center because the got a three yard gap. If he gets over his shoulder on the guard he's -- please please -- this is a straight shot to the quarterback. I never have liked this AM best protection never will likely have to action. And and I think it was more of the scheme the way they're trying to pass protect that was the player.

Don't ask you about we hedge on the radio about a month ago and nine are -- passionate right now you've always stand by your very heavily involved. And retired players area -- things it's going on that and I want you give the website out again tell people what's going on.

It's David David W -- fourth for gold unites. Dot com WWW dot fourth and go unites dot com. I L ordered a big didn't fit in on June 27 through -- night going to come then have a weekend then nine Atlantic City. They always you know that you get there we take your view from there -- have a grand slam -- golf tournament that morning with. How wage along in two -- Charles killed Winslow. Then move around a little coaching musical Tracy Lawrence Tracey Byrd had brains and we'll go we'll have a good time and.

You know I know. You know not to the extreme where you're one of the old school guys that the grudges what the young players and make him -- we sit here on draft day. And we're talking about Jake long the first pick in the draft we -- guaranteed thirty million dollars my starting salary was 30000 they -- I was fourth pick about. If that's -- a little different -- but more power to him in this day and age and Korea money but on the other extreme you get guys can't even walk now guys have been -- advancing guys have killed themselves and end -- NFL players that what the game does to you you really passionate about what.

The thing that we do begrudge as the fact that in 1983 when the NFL owners gave in 60% to if the union. The union was in charge of all the mentions of all the disabilities all the things it will want to protect us. So what happened is now as gene Upshaw as gay got made ten million dollars last year in salary and bonuses. And he's not done anything for the retired players forest disabilities he's done nothing for the retired players horrors improve bit of this he civil guys we gave he would wait perhaps today grace. We don't want. For that it if I made 25% increase a media inflation's -- where you'd have to almost decreased what I made. In what are originally contract for about 300% to make the same dollar buying power today. Because there's been no cost of living adjustment on any of our pension funds her -- early was making a 140 man dollars a month. They average pitch and right now is 800 dollars a month. And you're -- you're in there's no health coverage. And you know 50% of the guys get out of football because of injury not because they want to and only 3% or get disability percent.

This -- that a football because of injury at least this is not on their own terms not on their own terms we hear a lot about that than the collective bargaining agreement to -- BA after this next season everyone's already talking about a work stoppage here John. When they put that thing back together and if there's a stoppage. Will live retired players and will that on will that I I want to -- topic be broached that be part of any new CBA or is that totally separate.

You're the only way we will ever get anything done is to force the that union somehow the bears -- them or doing something to get them off the in the in unfortunately. I don't you know with what we may have to resort to use just keep this out from a public so we have bears the NFL. Because right now NFL ventures is the highest player into the NFL. Union the NFL the day. Their pay in the NFL players 34 and a half million dollars a year or going into the coffers from the NFL. The second is Reebok which is seventeen and a half million so it may be that we have to start go to those companies and saying hey guys we need you guys to help them. You sports fans out there don't support these guys until they -- NFL PA to deal -- right there there all players the right -- John I think -- pressure -- on gene -- enough over the years that his range going to come to an end sooner than later if that happens. The good guys that you represent the -- I mean is it jobs you would like to -- no I do not want that job who should be -- I don't know I don't care Dick Ambrose may be is a good candidate. Bernie Parrish has been a long term advocate Bruce Laird has been long term advocate well I do not want that job I have no -- want it is I guess have always been kind of I don't know a dreamer -- whatever deleted that I believe I believe in this cause and I really really. I hate to see now -- may suffer the weather suffer right now. And this is wrong and now believe in fairness and this as to what it is an issue of fairness in the website again. David have you done this stuff for the goals unites dot com.

Very nice and you know it is a shame because the NFL when you look in his one of the best run businesses industries in this entire country and to not be able to take -- that it to have such what is afford to have your average that a player has been in the Florida happier for years when -- when you know an -- I mean today.

It guidelines let me reiterate let me reiterate. In 1993 they handed all the responsibility of the pitches disabilities and everything the union they did. -- 60% of our play you take care of it is not the owners were fighting with our it's our union. This is the current players have to take your old guys and these guys play -- when I came in the league average salary was 22. Now they say well -- lot of money back that know what it was like about 80000 today which is not bad money but today. Thirty million dollars a year especially when you have a career that in your twenties that's maybe not going to get UT thirties very well average -- exactly.

Will the current players realize it's going on and and have they put forth enough and effort in your minors strictly the union gene -- with a bad guy.

That's been another issue would Bruce Laird and several others tried to get in front of the NFL players association so we could. Talk to the current players and let them know what's really happening to guys came before them so that they realize -- they don't want the same thing to happen then. So one of the very soon we tried it to do is get bruised there and in G adamantly has told Roger Goodell it. Bruce Laird in the room I will show up. What he did as he went out and got Jean if you get any got to. Cornelius Bennett who were his two -- and spoke company that plan to go and tell the players they were supposed to go to the all the NFL alumni associations. And talked to get a consensus of opinion and don't deal with you every contacted assault. They just went out there in total budget crap that so warm tell. That was it.

Well John the best and you cause because I think it's a real meaningful one thank you it's always great talking to and we needed -- we need people come down two Atlantic City and help -- to be a part of it we need the support. I always good to see him but I cannot be good operation thanks to living now thank you so much like you could see John and a NFL hall of Famer. Always honored to be in his presence their you know update your -- under you know all these managers did you see them go fullbacks yeah I never got paid for those well you know that's the other thing we go on on about as you look at baseball. MLB chat about pictures from the NFL to go do an autograph or Syria the guys yeah it is unbelievable MLB properties like if you get properties money and MLB. And this is on the forty man roster not just players you get a bullpen catchy hit a clubhouse guy. That check is over a 100000 dollars a year -- idea so they share in the revenues that there is average or -- about seven Matthau right. Parents while it was good talking interested -- I John -- NFL hall of Famer and the NFL hall of famers list is getting larger with patriots by the year